An Evening with Leyla McCalla

BRIDGES
Leyla McCalla is a multi-instrumentalist, multilingual singer and songwriter who combines original compositions and traditional Haitian tunes. Producing a distinctive sound that reflects the union of her roots and experience, McCalla’s performances are captivating, fueled by rich, sophisticated melodic work and intoxicating Afro-Caribbean rhythms. McCalla was born to a pair of Haitian emigrants and activists, first rising to success with the GRAMMY-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops before launching her solo career in 2014. The New York Times described her voice as “disarmingly natural, and her settings elegantly succinct,” while Rolling Stone hailed her “politically pointed lyrics.” Besides her own projects, McCalla currently performs in Our Native Daughters, alongside Rhiannon Giddens.

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